Page 4 - Florida Sentinel 6-19-18

Features
Local Chapter Of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Celebrates 90th Anniversary
2018 World's Largest Swimming Lesson Is On Thursday
SAMUEL HAMILTON
...Past Grand Polemarch, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
The 2018 World's Largest Swimming Lesson (WLSL) will take place on Thursday, June 21st, starting at 10 a. m., at all twelve City of Tampa swimming pools. The pool locations are:
Bobby Hicks Pool, 4201 W. Mango Ave., 33616
Copeland Pool, 11001 N. 15th St., 33612
Cuscaden Pool, 2900 N. 15th St., 33605
Cyrus Greene Pool, 2101 E. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., 33603
Danny Del Rio Pool, 10105 N. Boulevard, 33603
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Pool, 2200 N. Oregon Ave., 33607
Interbay Pool, 4321 Estrella Ave., 33629
Loretta Ingraham Pool, 1611 N. Hubert Ave., 33607
Roy Jenkins Pool, 154 Columbia Dr.,
33606
Spicola Family Pool, 2615 E. Corrine St., 33605
Sulphur Springs Pool, 701 E Bird St., 33604
Williams Park Pool, 4362 E. Osborne Ave., 33610
Registration for the event will take place prior to the beginning of the lessons (9 a. m. – 9:45 a. m.) at locations.
“Learning to swim is one of the most valuable ways we can help protect the youth of the City of Tampa,” said Parks & Recreation Director Paul Dial. “In addition, it is a healthy and fun skill for life!”
The purpose of the les- son? To provide kids and parents exposure to life-sav- ing water safety skills and build awareness about the vital importance of teaching children to swim to help pre- vent drowning. Program or- ganizers are working to connect the dots between the real risk of childhood drown- ing and the need for basic water competency skills and crucial parental supervision to keep kids safe in and
The problem is life threatening for chil- dren: Per the CDC, drown- ing remains the leading cause of injury related death for children ages 1-4, and the second leading cause for children under 14. Interna- tionally, the World Health Organization estimates drowning is one of the top five causes of death for peo- ple aged 1-14 in 48 of the 85 countries it monitors.
Many lack basic swim- ming skills: In 2014, a sur- vey completed by the American Red Cross found more than half of all Ameri- cans (54 percent) either can't swim or don't have all of the basic swimming skills.
Parents don't recog- nize supervision is key: According to a 2016 Safe Kids Worldwide report, despite the fact that lack of supervision played a role in the majority of drowning deaths, less than half of par- ents (49 percent) indicate they remain within arms' reach of their child in the water.
More than 41,000 swim- mers in 27 countries on six continents participated in 2017. Each location and tens of thousands of participants help spread the Swimming Lessons Save LivesTM mes- sage each year.
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Feature Writer
When it comes to uphold- ing the principles of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., the men who make up the Tampa Alumni Chapter are doing it right – and have been for 90 years, said past Grand Pole- march Samuel Hamilton.
“Thank you for living the dream,” he said. “You have consistently demonstrated that your fundamental pur- pose is achievement.”
Hamilton offered those words of praise to the men of Kappa Alpha Psi on Friday during his keynote address at the Tampa Alumni Chapter’s 90th anniversary luncheon.
Founded in 1928, the alumni chapter has marked the milestone occasion with a series of events this month, including commendations from both the City Council and Hillsborough County Commission, community service projects, and a prayer breakfast named after the late Rev. Abraham ‘Abe’ Brown, a Kappa member.
Hamilton was among a handful of dignitaries to speak at the luncheon, in- cluding Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn.
Mayor Buckhorn ex- tended congratulations to the men who have “made a differ- ence,” he said.
“We’re a better community because for 90 years, you’ve
been amongst us,” he said. “I know how much you care about this place. I know be- cause I see it.”
Mayor Buckhorn
joked that while he’s glad to see the Omega Psi Phi Frater- nity, Inc., next year host its regional convention in Tampa, he’d like to see the men of Kappa Alpha Psi do the same.
“I’d like to be in the midst of the next Kappa national convention,” he said.
In his address, Hamilton stated that the purpose be- hind the fraternity’s 1911 founding by 10 men at the predominately white Indiana University was “the power of association.”
“Elder Watson Diggs realized early on that the power to assemble and share ideas...that was his dream,” he said.
Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity was born at a time when African-Americans were sub- jected to obvious racism and discrimination. Diggs and the other founders were able to overcome those obstacles and grow the fraternity into the strong organization it is today.
The Kappa mission re- mains as strong today as it was then, Hamilton said.
“We need everyone behind the wheel,” he said. “Times are difficult. You have to be actively involved.”
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